Doorlatch spindle assembly



June 20, 1933- H. w. RIGHTMYER DOORLATCH SPINDLE ASSEMBLY Filed oct. 7,19'31 ulmllllll Ill-IIIIII!l gwwfntoz I Patented June 20, 1933 UNEEDSTATES ismael HOLDEN 1V. RIGI-ITMYER, OF TOLEDO, OHO, .A SSIGNOR T0.IJIE-RCAN S'WISS COIILDANY,

OF TOLEDO, Oft-HO, A CORPORATION OF DOORLATCH SFINDLE ASSE'IBLYApplication filed October 7, 1931. Serial No. 567,443.

This invention relates to door latches but more particularly to latchesfor doors of vehicles7 such as automobiles, and an object is to providea latch unit With simple and eilicient means for enabling' mounting ofthe handle spindle on the unit in such a manner as to retain the sameagainst ratti.' 0' and vibration and to eliminate the necessity ofrequiring a close fit between the spindleand latch mechanism so that theparts may be more easily manufactured and troublesome assembly problemseliminated since greater tolerance is allowed between the part formed toreceive the spindle and the latter.

Another object of the invention is to sinipliify the spindle and latchunit assembly adapting; it more readily for commercial production andthereby reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages ot the invention will hereina 'ter appearand :tor purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodimentot' the invention is shown on the accompanying' drawing in which- Fig. 1is a side elevation oi a latch unit showing the outside operated spindlein assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a top edge view of the latch mechanism applied to a vehicledoor, the latter N being' shown in transverse section; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the latch unite showing' themanner in which the spindle is mounted.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a latch unit foran automobile door having' a back plate 10 provided with an integralface plate 11 and an integral eX- tension 12 disposed substantiallyparallel to the plate 10. This provides what is generally termed anaround-the-glass latch to accommodate a Window panel 13 between the bachplate and extension 12 and thus produce a compact arrangement capable ofaccommodating' a Window extending' substantially the entire Width of thedoor. The back plate 1() may be secured to a door D by any suitablemeans7 such as bolts, and it may be mounted on a separate plateextending across the door adapted also to receive the Window regulatormechanism. However7 since the particular mounting ot' the latch unitforms no part of this invention. it is deemed snicient to illustrate amanner or mounting' the unit directly on the Jfront or outer panel ofthe door.

Projecting thru an opening formed in the tace plate 11 is a bolt nose 14which is riveted to a bolt plate 15. A spiral spring 16 anchored at oneond to the back plate bears against the rear and of the nose 14- andurges it to projected or latching position. Movement ot the bolt plate15 over the back plate 10 isg'uided by a headed rivet 17 tiXed to theback plat and disposed in an elongate slot 18 formed in the back plate.

The latch bolt is retracted from the inside oi the door by a strap 19having a headed rivet 2O disposed in an elongate slot 2l formed in thebolt plate 15. The strap or linlr 1D leads to a suitable remote controlunit er handle assembly (not shown). It is manifest that, when the rivet2O engages the right hand end ot the slot 21, it is possible uponfurther movement of the strap 19 to retract the bolt against the forceof the spring 16.

1Qetraction of the latch bolt from the outside oi' the door is etllectedthru a U-shaped roll back crank which is pivoted at one end to the inside ot the haelt plate 10 and the other end is disposed on the outsideot the extension plate 12. rlhe face plate 11 is eut out at 23 to permitrocking movements of the roll back crank. An arm 24 is rigid With theinner end of the roll back crank and engages an abutment 24 on the boltplate 15, so that upon clockwise movement of the i'oll back retractiono'l" the bolt is obtained. An arm 25 projects from the roll back crankand is disposed at approximately right angles to the roll bach arm 2li-The arm 25 is movable across the slot 21 so that when the strap 19 ismoved to the lett or in a non-bolt-retractinp,` direction7 the rivetf2() is moved in the path of the arm 25, thereby flogging or blockingmovement oi the roll back.

The roll back crank 22 is actuated by a spindle |26 which in thisinstance is rcctangular in cross section and extends through an openinp'27 in the inner panel of the door D. The spindle may be carried by anescutcheon plate 28 secured by screws 29 to the door; a handle beingprovided for turning the spindle. Formed in the outer end of the rollback 22 is a rectangular opening 31 shaped to receive the spindle 26 andproviding a snug lit therefor.

Fitting over the outer end of the roll back 22 is a cover' plate 32provided with oppositely disposed tabs or tongues which project throughopenings in the extension plate 12 and are bent over to retain the coverplate in place. Side flanges 34 space the cover' plate outwardly fromthe extension plate to accommodate the roll back therebetween and permitrocking movement thereof. Formed in the cover plate 32 is an opening 35which is preferably larger than the spindle 26 to enable the latter toextend freely therethrough. Extending inwardly from the sides of theopening are a plurality of equidistantly spaced projections or abutments36, one for each side or corner of the spindle 26, in this instance fourprojections or abutments are provided.

In mounting the spindle 2G on the latch unit, the end thereof isinserted through the opening 35, but the rectangular opening 31 isnormally out oi register with the opening 35. thus preventing thespindle from beingforced through it. It is therefore necessary to pushiinardly on the bolt nose 11i; and free the roll back crank 22 from thetorce of the spring 16. This enables the roll 'back to be rockedsufliciently, as indicated in Fig. 3, to bring the openingr 3l into suchposition that the spindle 26 can be 'forced through it, It is apparentthat upon releasing the bolt nose 14 (or strap 19 whichever ismanipulated), the spring 16 forces the roll back arm 24 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) thereby moving the sides of the spindle 26against the abutments 36. Sufficient movelnent of the spindle 26 betweenthe abutments 36 is afforded to enable full retraction of the bolt fromlatching position.

An important feature ofthe invention consists in utilizing the force ofthe bolt spring for retaining the spindle in the desired position freefrom rattles and vibration. Another important feature is that thisconstruction eliminates the necessity of making the opening in the rollback for the spindle with such precision as has heretofore beennecessary. A variation in the size will not be detrimental since thebolt spring in cooperation with the a'butments on the cover pla-te serveto obtain a tight fit between the parts. Thus, in an extremely simpleand etlicient 1n anner, the spindle is retained in the desired position,and owing to the marked simplicity in construction, the parts may bemanufactured at a lower cost than similar forms now in use. v l'lNumerous changes in details of construction and arrangement may be madewithout departing from the spirit of this invention.

That I claim:

l. In a. door latch, a spring tensioned latch bolt, a rockable roll backarm engageable with said bolt, a stationary plate adjacent said arm, anoperating spindle of polygonal cross section, said arm having an openingproviding a snug it for said spindle, said plate having an openinglarger than said arm opening, and an abutment projecting from the rim ofsaid plate opening, said abutment being so arranged that said tensionedlatch bolt operating through said arm normally holds an edge portion ofsaid spindle tightly against said abutment.

2. In a door latch, a spring tensioned latch bolt, a rockable roll backarm engaging said bolt at one end, a stationary plate adjacent theopposite end of said arm, an operating spindle of polygonal crosssection, said arm having an opening providing a snug lit ifor saidspindle, said plate having an opening larger than said arm opening, anda plurality of equidistantly spaced abut-ments extending inwardly fromthe rim of said plate opening, said abutments being so arranged thatsaid tensioned latch bolt o )erating through said roll back arln normaly holds edge portions of said spindle tightly against said abutments,and the space between adjacent abutments being sufficient to enable saidspindle to be rocked for eifecting complete retraction oi said latchbolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

HOLDEN W. RIGHTMYER.

